As had become customary since she had returned to Shadowrock, Fidelia left Barthra's hut to pay a visit to her friends back at the castle, as well as to continue preparations for the imminent journey that awaited them across the mountain.For now, everything was going according to what Rovenna had planned, although her detour to Stormbrace, as Theo Malis had narrated to them, would prove to be a challenge for the Master Arcanist. At least they could all rest assured that Olivia and Silas were on their way to the Fellowship of the Island. Fidelia did not know Jasper Gloom personally but it was known that he was a man of his word.

  Things should get easier for the two fugitives from now on, especially after learning that Eldrin was out of the way. When Fidelia heard of his death she didn't even feel surprise. A pitiful end for a pitiful man.

  It now remained to be seen how the Conclave would react to the news of what had happened at the port. According to Theo, Rovenna relied on many witnesses who had experienced the great power of the chimera but, even if that served as a defense, it meant that all the blame would fall on the chimera, as well as on the pirates who had rebelled to protect him. A new war would be declared, and she doubted that this time the sirenians would be able to stop it.There was also the possibility that the Council, now knowing the original power of the chimeras, would turn their eyes towards the Roaring Mountains in order to attack them. By no means would the elves ever allow a human army to cross their sacred territory, so the only way to reach the mountains was through the Breach, that is, the castle of Shadowrock.

  And so now the new mission of the Chimera Protection Task Force was not simply to find these elusive creatures, but to warn them of this new danger.

  Meanwhile, the fate of Shadowrock remained uncertain. Not only because the Count was faced with the decision to go against the Council, but also because Theo Malis found himself now in a precarious situation. As long as Rovenna remained in her position he was in no danger, but if the Conclave decided to remove her or, worse, to accuse her of treason, the entire new Order of Shadowrock was at risk.

  It was so that in the castle everyone was starting to prepare for battle. Thanks to Korinna's help, Leander had made great progress with the arcantio. After the arrival of the new Leader of the Order, he and the Count had decided to reveal the use of that metal: antimagic weapons. Shields, swords, armor, spears, clubs, axes, halberds, you name it. That meant that any soldier could come face to face with a wizard. Something unthinkable until then. It would not be easy to manufacture all that amount of weapons in such a short time, but the blacksmiths, together with the wizards, had set to work to create the first models.

  When Theo inquired about the metal's origin, all Alaric could say was that it was a fortunate strike when a group of miners brought a sample to the castle to offer to the wizards. Eldrin had show no interest, but Leander, curious to try new materials for potions, took a small piece of the rock which for some reason felt very heavy to him. It wasn't long before he realized that the strange stone absorbed magical power and with some manipulation could become a protection against it. After the discovery Alaric had ordered the extraction of the material which to his surprise was found in abysmal quantities, as if all that time it had been waiting there to be found.

  For some reason that Fidelia did not yet know, the Count had been preparing all this time to confront the Council. Relations between Shadowrock and Nemertya had always been strained, but she wondered what exactly would have been the cause of why the Guardian of the Circle would be arming himself in such a manner. She didn't think his goal was to attack Nemertya, especially with the number of soldiers and wizards on his side, which was nothing compared to the resources of the capital, as well as the more prominent castles that were loyal to the Crown.It was the worst time to go on an expedition, but there was nothing Fidelia could do about it. Her trip to the island had been postponed indefinitely, and it would not be safe to travel the roads with the entire kingdom on alert.Cormac estimated that if the Council decided to head for Shadowrock with an army, they would need at least a month to prepare. By then, the Task Force was supposed to have found the chimeras, though Fidelia wasn't so optimist. The vastness of the mountains was unknown, and they didn't know how far from the border the creatures might be.But if they did find the packs, what then? Would they go deeper into the mountains or would they be willing to make an alliance with Shadowrock, which for the moment was the only shield that would withstand the Council's onslaught?

  No matter how she looked at it, Fidelia felt useless, especially now that she was surrounded by wizards on all sides who reminded her of both her moments of glory and her fall from grace. But she could not let herself be burdened by old memories, that were nothing more than ghosts, when she now had the duty to make sure that neither Myrius nor Korinna committed any foolish acts as they crossed the mountains. That journey would test both their physical and magical endurance, and she did not think either of them had any real awareness of what lay ahead.She was pondering all this when the sound of horses' hooves made her eyes rise. A small retinue of soldiers was crossing the great iron gate of the castle. It didn't take her long to recognize the Count, followed by Cormac. They were riding at a speed that suggested they were on their way to deal with an emergency and soon disappeared around a bend in the road.

  Fidelia quickened her pace and as soon as she crossed the castle entrance she headed towards where the wizards of the new order were training, along with Myrius and Korinna who had decided to participate during the sessions in order to prepare for their journey.

  She found the wizards gathered in a circle precisely the exact moment when Theo was sending one of his subordinates flying through the air, who had to be rescued by his companions to prevent him from crashing into a wall.

  Fidelia made her way through the wizards and several servants and soldiers who had approached to look around. As she reached the clear space where Theo stood she saw him rubbing his hands together with a mixture of smugness and boredom. She couldn't help but feel a tightness of envy in her chest, thinking how easy would it be for her to wipe that confidence off his face. If only she could use her power. Maybe she even would have enjoyed it, since it was known that Theo had been personally trained by Rovenna after becoming her personal assistant. Everyone knew that the Master Arcanist didn't waste her time with just anyone.

  From what she had observed over the past few days, most of the wizards chosen by Theo Malis were Acolytes and Initiates. There were several Masters but, with the exception of the Leader, most of them had reached that level recently, so they didn't have much experience.After defeating the boy, who seemed to be the last of a long line of volunteers, he went on to give a series of explanations on how they should learn to read the movements of their opponents. As he walked into the training circle, he stopped suddenly, and turned his head. Fidelia followed his gaze to a corner where Korinna and Myrius stood looking startled as the Leader walked towards them.

  “Masters... would you do me the favor of assisting me in the demonstration?”Korinna's and Myrius' faces paled at the suggestion. Korinna looked down sheepishly, drawing something on the floor with her boots, while Myrius put a hand to the collar of his tunic as if he were running out of air.

  “After all,” Theo insisted, “you were the ones who freed the castle from the traitors’ control.”

  Skipping the part where they had been helped by a group of servants who knew nothing about magic and a magicar who had almost killed them in the process. Fidelia thought she should interrupt him with the excuse of continuing to talk about their expedition, but before she could do anything Myrius stepped forward towards Theo and in a single movement of his hands released a shockwave. While his technique was precise, Theo, with a flick of his wrist, blocked the attack with a shield and with surprising speed bounced the magic force back towards Myrius who managed to raise a shield in time. Theo took advantage of his distraction to close the distance between them and in an instant had Myrius pinned to the ground with another shockwave. Myrius tried to counterattack, but a pair of nullifying chains floated out of Theo's robe and locked onto Myrius' wrists.

  It was a rather dirty but effective trick.

  “Thank you for the demonstration, Master,” said Theo, hiding behind his apparent politeness a certain condescension. “Master Korinna?”

  Fidelia had rarely seen Korinna as angry as she was at that moment as she was helping Myrius remove his chains. She raised her head with determination even though Fidelia noticed a certain tremor in her jaw. She soon summoned a swirl of wind that headed straight for Theo . He soon dissolved with two blades of silver light protruding from his clenched fists. The rest of the wizards, Initiates, Acolytes and the other Masters, gasped in amazement over that technique which very few had managed to polish.

  Korinna seemed to hesitate for a moment but then raised both hands to summon two small shields. Fidelia quickly understood her strategy was. She would use the shields to block the thrusts of the blades. However, although she managed to stop several of Theo's moves, Korinna's stamina, which had devoted for years only to her experiments, did not hold out for long. Quite soon after she was already in the same position as Myrius.

  After this, Theo bowed his head.

  “I appreciate your cooperation... I think it might be better if we continued with some simpler exercises.”Fidelia decided she had seen enough.“Master Leader!” she shouted, feeling the words catch in her throat. She still couldn't accept that she had to answer to that brat. “I have come to talk to my companions. There are still many things to resolve before we set out on our journey.”

  “Ah, yes, the excursion...” Theo smiled, implying how useless he thought the mission was.Fidelia couldn't agree more, but her loyalty to Myrius took precedence at that moment.

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  “Rovenna's idea,” she said, raising her eyebrows.

  “Believe me, Rovenna has a great sense of humor sometimes,” Theo rolled his eyes as if remembering something he didn't bother to share. Then he gestured that they could leave and resumed training with the rest of the wizards.

  Fidelia motioned for Korinna and Myrius to follow her. Actually, it was Myrius who should take the initiative, but she was not patient enough that day.

  “I can't stand this guy... such a know-it-all...” Myrius mumbled. “And so young–”

  “Would you prefer an old man like Eldrin?” Fidelia interjected. Theo might be arrogant, but still she couldn't let Myrius fool himself. They were not prepared for what was to come.

  That afternoon they were supposed to meet with someone who would also be participating in the mission. It had not been easy to get volunteers. In fact, they hadn't gotten a single one so far. It was just the three of them, just as they had started when they left Nemertya.Fidelia would have liked another wizard to join the expedition, but Theo had refused. They didn't know what would happen to Rovenna once she returned to the capital. In case the outcome was unfavorable, the Order of the Shadowrock could not risk losing any more wizards. Theo was even quick to recruit young villagers and castle servants as Initiates as soon as he found they had the potential to use magic. As for Leander, he would have liked to go with them, but he had to take care of the arcantio.

  Even both the Count and Cormac had refused to give up a single soldier. They believed, as did Theo, that it would be a suicide mission. Fidelia even tried to look for hunters or miners in the village who were used to working in the vicinity of the mountains, but as soon as they found out that the mission was to go beyond the little territory they knew, they flatly refused.

  Fidelia believed that at least that would make Myrius reconsider the mission, but with each passing day, especially after learning of the events at the port, his sense of duty grew stronger and stronger. His only regret was not having seen the original chimera with his own eyes. As for Korinna, Fidelia had held out hope that she would become so obsessed with the arcantio that it would be impossible for her to leave the castle, but she was now a member of the Task Force and could not fail her Master Leader.So there was no way... they would go deep into the Roaring Mountains. Perhaps they should pay a visit to the Nymph's temple before they left. They needed all the physical and spiritual protection they could get.

  “Where are we going?” Korinna inquired when she saw that Fidelia wasn't heading for the south tower that had become their meeting place since Theo had moved into the study formerly occupied by Leander.

  “The library.”

  “Why there?” Myrius asked. “We've already searched for everything related to the mountains and not–”

  “Because someone who is willing to accompany us is waiting for us there.”

  Korinna and Myrius jumped on her.

  “Who?”

  Fidelia made a move to shake them off.

  “I don't know. The message didn't reveal anything about his identity.”

  Korinna let out a little cry of joy.

  “We're not going alone then!”

  “We were never going to be alone!” Fidelia growled. “There are three of us–”

  “Yes... but... one more... I'd feel safer.”

  “If you're so afraid, there's still time–”

  “Don't even think about it! I'm a member of the Task Force!”

  A few moments later they arrived at the large library, which was empty by then, except for a servant who had his back turned, dusting the shelves.

  “Where is he?” the three of them started to search through the long shelves, but could find no one else after wandering around for a while.

  “Perhaps he's running late?” muttered Myrius.

  “Or he chickened out like the rest?” said Fidelia who was already thinking that the message might have been a prank by one of the new wizards of the Order, who were nothing more than immature youngsters. The fact that the message was unsigned had made her suspicious, but she felt that she was not losing anything by...

  Suddenly, a bunch of feathers blocked her vision.

  “You need to be more vigilant if you want to survive in the mountains” said a male voice that she recognized immediately. Her assumptions were confirmed as soon as the man removed the feather duster from her eyes.

  “Guthran!” exclaimed Korinna about to hug him.

  Guthran clicked his tongue and shook his index finger. He was dressed as a servant, the same one they had met as soon as they entered, and he had shaved his beard, revealing a skin furrowed with wrinkles and spots from sun exposure.

  “My name is not Guthran. I am Boric, an experienced mountain guide. I have lived all my life in my little hut on a cliff and I help lunatics like you to cross the mountains in search of chimeras.”

  Fidelia rolled her eyes.

  “We know who you are... you don't need to change your name.”

  Guthran again refused.

  “New mission, new identity.”

  “But it's just us... It will be less confusing if we keep calling you Guthran...”

  The man nodded reluctantly.

  “Did Rovenna ask you to join us?” Fidelia asked.

  “With Theo Malis in the castle there is no longer any need for my services. She has released me from my contract... but I told her that I might embark on one last adventure.”

  Fidelia frowned.

  “Guthran... how old are you?”

  He looked at her with feigned indignation.

  “It's not polite to ask a man's age.”

  “I thought that was a woman's thing.”

  “Men have feelings too.”

  Fidelia sighed. That was better than nothing.

  “What do you know about the Roaring Mountains?”

  “The same as everybody else.”

  “That is, very little to nothing.”

  “I have adopted many roles in my life,” said the man with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. “Merchant, undertaker, barkeep, beggar, court jester, tutor to a duke's son. In my younger days I even managed to impersonate a priestess of the great temple of Nemertyss, and I also got to work in Rebellion spying on Royden “Sneaky” Branson.”

  “That's all very well–” Fidelia began to say.

  “It's amazing!” Korinna's eyes were sparkling. “You have so many stories–!”

  “But we are talking about an unknown territory with a harsh environment. None of your deceptions will serve you there.”

  “My mind is still as fresh and agile as that of a young boy. I may not have the power of magic, but I can manage when things get tough,” Guthran went to a table next to a window and sat down. “We leave in two days, so let's get started.”

  They did not move from there until nightfall as they went over the details of the mission. To begin with, they were counting on Myrius and Korinna's magic, but that was not unlimited. In addition to tents, blankets, food and warm clothing, among the items they would carry were glowing stones to light up during the nights, heat stones to prevent frostbite and other artifacts prepared by Korinna that would be put to the test. Guthran had a bag ready with his own equipment in case the magic failed. The only problem was that they couldn't make food appear out of thin air, so when their supplies ran out they would have no choice but to hunt or forage for edible plants, if by chance there were any around. They had to be prepared for anything, but not too heavily laden to avoid the weight slowing them down.

  The night before their departure, Leander hosted a farewell dinner. The entire Order showed up in the dining room to see them off, including the Master Leader who remained silent most of the evening although to Fidelia that seemed to be part of his guarded personality. Neither the Count nor Cormac attended. Leander told her that an emergency demanded their presence at the lake, though he was not allowed to give her details.

  Most of the young wizards could not believe what they were about to do, but in spite of that some tried to lift the travelers' spirits with anecdotes and jokes. Some even recited poems that were sung in their own hometowns and reminisced about how hard it was to be so far from home. A very small number came from the capital, while most were the children of villagers and artisans seeking to better their lives and those of their families. The new Initiates felt very grateful to their Master Leader who had been primarily responsible for their admission to the Council and they would do their best not to let him down. At one point several became tearful, even though they were not that drunk. It seemed as if they were the ones who were about to leave.

  Fidelia glanced sideways at Theo to observe his reactions. That was when she noticed the depth of the dark circles under his eyes and his tired smile. She didn’t envy him in the slightest at that moment. In just a few weeks, he was expected to prepare a regiment of wizards that would very likely end up facing the Council. They were in a situation that not even Rovenna Astra could solve with her usual schemes. There was a chance that when Fidelia returned to Shadowrock—if she ever managed to survive the mountains first— she would not meet again many of those innocent faces.

  They were about to become cannon fodder.

  As if pushed by an unknown force, she rose from her seat and raised her cup toward the Master Leader.

  "I’d like to propose a toast to the new Order of Shadowrock."

  The murmurs in the dining hall fell silent at once, all eyes fixed on her.

  "Today, more than ever, we face the threat of dark times we thought were long behind us, while the honor of Shadowrock has been poisoned by arrogance and corruption”. She paused briefly, her gaze sweeping across those present. “But today, at this crossroads, you have the chance to turn this Order into what it always should have been: a united force, a bastion against the darkness. May this new Order, with all that it represents, be the light that guides us through the unknown.” She raised her glass higher and concluded firmly. “Night's burden we hold!”

  At these final words, everyone stood and raised their glasses: “Night's burden we hold!”

  As she drank from her cup, her eyes met Theo’s. He offered her a slight nod. This time, one of gratitude.

  But he didn’t stop there. He too raised his cup once more:

  “To the Chimera Protection Task Force!” he exclaimed, his voice clear and steady, though it carried an unexpected humility. “Each of you plays a crucial role in what’s to come. The road ahead will be uncertain, but your courage will be what makes the difference. May the strength of your resolve guide you to success, no matter the obstacles.”

  Everyone else echoed the second toast in unison. Their voices rang through the hall with a spirit full of determination and optimism that, at least for that night, managed to sweep away all traces of fear or doubt.

  And so, the next morning, just after the sun rose, the Special Unit for Chimera Protection set off on their journey, the four of them mounted on mules. The first leg of the expedition would take them along a rocky mountain path used by hunters and miners—some of whom would accompany them partway before leaving them to their fate, which was better than nothing.

  Once they had covered some distance, Fidelia turned back to cast one final glance at the ancient, shadowy towers of the castle—a place she never thought she would miss. Once, it had been her home, then the place she hated most in the world, and in the end, a refuge she now wished she could return to.

  She looked at her companions, who, under a gentle sun and a cool breeze, were exchanging smiles of excitement—smiles she couldn’t even pretend to mirror, even just to encourage them, as she had felt compelled to the night before.

  Then she looked farther, toward the vast chain of snowcapped mountains wrapped in mist and a heavy murmur rising from the depths of the valleys, as if the land itself were uttering an ominous warning.

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